Today I went to a screening of Precious Knowledge, the 2011 documentary by Eren McGinnis on the battle to save the Mexican-American Studies program in Tuscon High School. This film chronicles the process through which racist political decision-makers were able to demonize minority racial solidarity and dismantle one of the most successful elective programs in Arizona public schools. What struck me about the story was how discourse played such an important role in the attack on and defense of the program.
Despite never having visited the classes (Horne) or only having observed one class (Huppenthal), opponents to the program threw around words like "sedition," "resentment," "victim mentality," and even "communism" to describe the Mexican-American Studies program. They called the teachers "vehement anti-Americans" who conducted “propagandizing and brainwashing” in their classrooms. Somehow these men and women convinced decision-makers that banning ethnic studies programs would promote "equality," "individualism," and other "American values."
In an article for the LA Times, Rodriguez points out the irony in the conservatives' approach: "the same Arizona Legislature that spearheaded a ruthless, racially charged campaign against illegal immigrants also banned K-12 ethnic studies classes on the grounds that they promoted hatred and division." However, they did it - their ironic and contradictory rhetoric worked. They successfully banned ethnic studies. By utilizing pro-US, colorblind discourse, the opposition capitalized on white patriotism and manufactured its victory.
This astounding use of discourse to dictate the future of the educational system jarred me. How could such a successful program, with all the support, data, and experience behind it, be defeated by a series of ignorant appeals to ideology? What other programs, even movements, have crumpled under the weight of words? Which seemingly benign words dole out the hardest blows to the women's movement?
Your final questions are important. Women have been denied all kinds of opportunity, from women's sport to reproductive rights, based on biased, privileged rhetoric. If you believe, as postmodernists do, that language defines us, then we'll never be beyond the threat. Thanks for all of these links. Sources show the reach of the story.
ReplyDeleteI thought you'd be interested in this article: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/201331116423560886.html
ReplyDeleteTotally different topic, but it touches on the role of discourse/ideology in unpaid labor in the professional world.